The Jig.

Something I feel every equestrian can agree annoys them to no end is jigging.

Imagine the horse dancing in place, this is what riders call the jig.

It stems from impatience and is a vice that many off-the-track Thoroughbreds possess due to being accustomed to a fast lifestyle.  The next time you watch a major race, such as the Kentucky Derby, pay close attention to the horses as they are being led to the starting gate. You will notice that they bounce around in excitement as they become more aware that the race is near.

This mindset does not vanish when a horse leaves the track, many times it’s a habit that stays with them.

Bailey was no exception.

Her intelligence made her anticipate my next move so I had to find ways to out smart her.

In order to do so, I would change up the riding routine so that she could not expect the next cue.  Horses are masters of repetition and quickly remember patterns.  For example, many riders will go in order of gaits when riding their horse.  They will begin at the walk, warm up at the trot, and spend time at the end cantering.  Bailey quickly realized this pattern and began to anticipate the cues before I even asked them which caused her to dance in place or jig.

To counter this, I would change the patterns, leaving her unable to expect what would happen next.  She finally began to relax and wait for my cues, this would make training in the future less challenging for both of us.

Bailey pictured after a successful ride in February 2017.